Thermostatic mixer



Aug. 1, 1950 R. TRUBERT 2,517,

THERMOSTATIC MIXER Filed Oct. 23, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. TRUBERT THERMOSTATIC MIXER Aug. 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 23, 1946 Aug. 1, 1950 R. TRUBERT THERMOSTATIC MIXER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 25, 1946 Patented Aug. 1, 1 950 THERMQSTATIC MIXER Rene Trubert, Virofiay, France Application October 23, 1946, Serial No. 705,223 In France June 2, 1942 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires June 2, 1962 Claims.

The invention relates to thermostatic mixers of the type in which a bimetal strip is so arranged as to permit to keep at a constantly even temperature the liquid furnished by the apparatus, while the latter is fed by means of two inlets of hot and cold water respectively.

A mixer of that type has already been described in the U. S. Patent No. 1,943,705 of Jannary 16, 19%, of the same inventor. The chief aim of the present invention is to improve the construction of the said mixer as regards cost price, facility of mounting or dismounting, robustness of the whole, and also precision and dependability in working.

The invention is essentially characterized in that the bimetal strip which regulates the proportion of the mixture in cooperation with two nozzles controlling the two inlet pipe diaphragm valves, now actuates a rocking distributor mounted inside a housing fitting with said nozzles, the said bimetal strip being supported by a small flexible strip the position of which adjusted by means of a screw-threaded stem actuated by an external hand-operated knob.

Various other features of the invention will be set forth thereafter with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows by way of example a constructional form of the invention and also a modification in the diaphragm valves.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 3 shows details of the distributor actuated by the bimetal strip.

Figures l and 5 show sectional views of 2. diaphragm valve according to the invention, in two different posit ons of the said diaphragms.

The apparatus as shown by Figures 1 and 2 comprises substantially a body l provided with screw-threaded portions 2, 3 and 4 which receive pipe connections. The body I is further provided with aperture 5 (Figure 2) utilised for inspection of members located inside. Inside the body l is fitted a bimetal strip 5 actuating the distributor of hot and cold liquids.

According to a feature of the invention the said bimetal strip is connected with the support 1 thereof by means of a small flexible strip 3. A member 9 fitted on the bimetal strip cooperates with the temperature adjustment device. This structure allows an insertion of the bimetallic strip 6 and the support l thereof into the body through the aperture of the threaded portion 2. The drawing shows a form where the small flexible strip 8 also acts as a drawback spring, but

the said small strip, connected both with the support 1 and the bimetal strip 6, could serve only as a flexible support, a separate drawback spring being, in this case, provided for.

Another feature of the temperature adjustment device, is that the same comprises a stem 10 with a threaded portion ll. Said threaded portion may be more Or less quick-pitched according to the scale of temperatures required, and will engage the inside thread of the body threaded portion 2, the pitch of which being, naturally, in accordance. The other end of the stem it is tapered and the position of the hand-operated knob l3 can be set instantaneously with respect to the angular position of the stem is, by loosening the screw I4, and placing the index IS in front of a corresponding figure of the dial 16, no dismountlng being needed.

As may be seen in Figure 2, the stem it, when rotated, actuates the member 9 of the bimetal strip 6, thus pressing the drawback and operates the necessary adjustment.

The distributor, proper of hot and cold water comprises a member ll shown in a larger scale in Figure 3, rocking about a point l8, and actu ated by the end of the bimetal stri 6. This member is provided with recesses I9 and 28 movable in front of the nozzles 2| and 22 when the bimetal strip rocks the member ll. These motions uncover more or less the l'1OZZ1es 2! and E2 or else let them both slightly open according to the temperature of the bimetal strip, in relation with the heat of the required mixture which has been regulated by means of the hand knob 53. The said member I! is mounted ins de a small housing 23 of general cylindrical shape having a transverse central aperture in which rocks the member ll, whereas said transverse aperture The Y communicates with said nozzles 2i and 22. edges 24 of this transverse aperture act as abutments to limitate in both directions the motion of member [1.

The nozzles 2l--22 cooperate respectively with the diaphragms 25-26 which regulate the inflow of hot and cold water by opening or closing the water inlets 29--3ll; when a water inlet 25-30 is opened, the water flows through lateral apertures 31-32 upon which the diaphragm is brought to bear when in its closing position. Each diaphragm is provided centrally with a, small orifice, the object of same being to create behind said diaphragm a back pressure necessary for the working thereof, as will be explained thereafter.

Filters 3334 supporting the guide links of non-return valves 35-35 have been provided in move in the way which will lessen the outflow front of dap-hragms 25-433. In Figure l, the non-return valve is shown open, and the valve to closed. It is to be noted that such device can be taken off and replaced easily by unscrew"ng the pipe connections and 86. Spikes, or lugs, project from one of the valves, the cap thereof and the distributor.

It is also to be noted that the device is likewise provided with connections til and it to be welded, or connected by a screw connection to the pipe connections and respectively, thus permitting the apparatus to be talren apart without moving the feeding pipes.

Between the pipe connections Si-lil and the members ll-t2 supporting the 252ii is fitted a gasket operat'ng both ways, especially in a direction parallel to the axis of said pipe connections and then radially, thus ensuring waterwightness between members 3'l38 and ll and besides, between these two members and the threa.

Z.- and i of the body 3. The surfaces of me; I 37-38 and ll lil, contacting the water-"tight facings it l l are, owing to The pipe connections 3'! and threaded portions 3 and bear upon the 53- 5 3 pressing same in the direction or the and also pushing them away radi according to the vention, the b'n. which is constantly flooded, ma be against corrosion with a cover of such varnish, rubber or the like, this fur usual metal protection.

The manner of operation the apparatus is similar to what has been described the abovementioned U. S. tent. When the temperature of the mixture gws higher or lower, the bimetal strip causes the distributor to rock. If the -iX- ture is too hot, for instance. the distributor will through the hot water nozzle and th back pressure thus created behind the hot water inlet phragm will cause the closing of same, whilst other diaphragm, which will have been relieved. of its back pressure by the opening of the other nozzle, will then allow cold water to flow in. When. the inflow of cold water has decreased the temperature of the bimetal strip to such an extent that the mixture would become too cold, a reverse rocking motion of the said bimetal strip takes place, thus closing the cold water inlet and cpening the hot water inlet. These non-stop rocking motions will maintain constantly the heat of the mixture at the same value.

The diaphragms lib-2% actuated by the back pressure of the inflow which they ccntrol, may comprise according o he in ntion central cir cular rigid portion and outwardly an annular eX- tendible portion.

Ordinary diaphragms, such as for instanc those in which fle ibility is provided for by means of concentric corrugations, would not be suitable as the back pressure would possibly cause permanent defori ations. Besides, the water pressure bears upon an equal area on both sides, would not have suificient power for c sing.

To obtain such necessar power, the invention provides for a constructional form. in which the diaphragm is made natural or synthetic r bher. or 'ike mat ml which may be 1 nfcrced by- A rigid metal disc is inserte' centraly, and in the rema' annularoutward portion. are two or a pluralit of iclds so to permit the diaphragm to be easily depressed in one direction whilst strongly resistizr the water.

pressure from the other direction. Such a form is illustrated by Figures 4 and 5 which show the diaphragm 5i with the inner disc 52, the closing side 53, the outer facing the closing fold 55, the opening fold 56, the orifice 5's (similar to pipes BL-28), the spring 53. There can also be seen the valve 59 comprising the inlet pipe t ll, the seat 8!, the perforated shoulder 52, the edge '53, the cap the closing ring t5 and the aperture (similar to apertures 2 l22).

The manner of operation of the diaphragm is as follows:

In Figure l, the aperture fit is closed; the liquid flowing into the pipe passes through the orifice El and bears with equal strength upon the central portion of the side 53 corresponding to the seat ill and upon the area of the facing 54 corresponding to the disc 52. The diameter of the disc belarger than that of the seat, the diaphragm is pressed upon the seat correspondence with he pressure power, thu preventing the passing of the water. Outside the disc area, the outward flexible portion of the diaphragm, comfolds and 55, bears against the perforated. shoulder the pressure having a. tendency to tighten the folds; however said folds are deep enough to have a sufiicient rigidity which will permit the diaphragm to bear against the shoulder without substantial deformation.

In Figure 5, which shows the diaphragm in its open position, the aperture 68 has been opened. Accordingly, the liquid passing through the ori iice ill will no ion or be pressed under the cap 64 and the water pressure into the inlet pipe will be sufficient to raise diaphragm from the seat El, thus providing an escape through. which the water will flow in the direction of the arrows.

The spring 53 has no other object than to prevent deformation of the diaphragm when the valve is not in operation.

The above description has only been set forth way of example, and obviously, modified constructional forms would still be within the scope of the invention. For instance, it will be observed that the closing portion. of the diaphragm may for liquids comprising liquid inlet, a cold liquid inlet, an outlet for the mixed liquid, two diaphragm valves, each for controlling one or said inlets front race of each said valve, a in seat for the one aperture correspondst one aperture said seat comwitn .aid outlet, a back. pressure rear side on each said valve, a small passage through each of said valves between inlet and heel; pressure chamber, a stationary between the two back pressure h mbers, a tr nsverse aperture in housing in communication with the outlet, two nozzles in the lateral of said housing giving between said two back. pressure chambezs and the transverse aperture, a r Cklilg distributor movtr osverse aperture of said housing l strip connected and ed by a spring strip and means adjusting aid strip v an external rotatable hand operated knob and screw-threaded stem connec ed to said knob.

tleas scat con nnnicating with the inlet, at municating chamber on 2. A thermostatic mixer as claimed in claim 1, in which the stem of the adjusting means is tapered at its outward end to receive the hand operated knob, the other end being screw threaded with a pitch in accordance with the required scale of temperature with which the apparatus is to be used.

3, A thermostatic mixer as claimed in claim 1, in which the edges of said transverse apertures of the distributor housing comprise abutment for limitating in both directions the movement of the rocking distributor, said distributor having recesses which move in front of said nozzles to adjust the back pressures operating the diaphragm valves.

4. A thermostatic mixer as claimed in claim 1, in which the seat of each diaphragm valve comprises a central aperture communicating with the inlet whereas the central part of said valve in front of said aperture comprises a first external elastic layer on its front side, a second external elastic layer of lesser thickness on its rear side and a rigid internal disc inserted between said elastic layers and having a larger diameter than said central aperture.

5. A thermostatic mixer as claimed in claim 1, in which the seat of each diaphragm valve comprises a central aperture in communication with said liquid inlet and other apertures which are in communication with said outlet and are arranged around said central aperture, whereas the diaphragm valve comprises in its peripherical portion, in front of said other apertures, at least two folds applied one on the other in the closed position of the valve and adapted to open themselves when the valve opens, for the purpose of giving to said valve a sufficient flexibility.

RENE TRUBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date M81739 Gut Apr. 2, 1907 882,944 Haas Mar. 24, 1908 1,943,705 Trubert Jan. 16, 1934 2,211,481 Scott Aug, 13, 1940 2,212,607 Langdon Aug. 27, 1940 2,250,135 Lindemann July 22, 1941 2382,5283 Barnett Aug. 14, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 882,839 France Mar. 8, 1943 

